The effect of resilience on fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients: the moderating role of perceived social support

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of resilience on fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients and to find the specific role of perceived social support between them. Methods From April 2018 to January 2019, we invited 456 breast cancer patients hospitalized in the Department of Breast surgery in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University in Jinan to participate in the study and to finish a questionnaire survey which including the general information questionnaire, Chinese version of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Perceived Social Support Scale. Results The average score of fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients was (41.5±7.7), and 85.99% (313/364) of the patients′ score was clinically significant (total score ≥ 34). Resilience could negatively predict the fear of cancer recurrence (β=-0.240 P < 0.01). Perceived social support is the moderation between resilience and fear of cancer recurrence (β=-0.179, P<0.01). Conclusions The level of resilience could affect the level of fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients, and the increase in the level of perceived social support could enhance the effect of resilience on the fear of cancer recurrence, thus further reducing the level of patient′s fear of recurrence. Key words: Breast neoplasm; Resilience; Fear of cancer recurrence; Perceived social support; Moderation